The Embodiment of Trauma: Somatic Healing Methods

Leading trauma experts have been researching the importance of working with the nervous system and body in response to trauma for several years. As we shift to more decolonizing and humanizing models of therapy, considering and attending to the embodied experience of trauma is necessary. The idea of somatic therapy can seem overwhelming, as it asks practitioners to track nearly unnoticeable shifts in posture, physiology, and movement. However, when the embodiment of trauma is not considered we risk missing crucial elements of our client’s internal resources and trauma and stress-based reflexive patterns. Participants will learn basic concepts of somatic experiencing including resourcing and regulation techniques. We will discuss how to use body-based, polyvagal interventions - including movement, interoception, titration, visualization, and other somatic exercises to facilitate the healing of trauma. The training will also address the importance of assessing the therapist’s own nervous system and embodied experience in the therapeutic process.The Embodiment of Trauma: Somatic Healing Methods